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http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/dukes-balls-for-ashes-practice-20121023-283gw.html
http://www.theage.com.au/sport/cricket/dukes-balls-for-ashes-practice-20121023-283gw.html
The article also makes the point that the use of Dukes in Australia might help reduce costs for grassroots clubs/associations, as many of them currently outlay significant amounts of money on Kookaburras each season.
I've never used a Duke or a Platypus in a match (not that I can recall, anyway, and certainly not at senior level).
What are peoples thoughts on this move?
CRICKET Australia is plotting to deprive England of a crucial competitive advantage on future Ashes tours by introducing the Dukes ball to domestic cricket.
The Dukes cricket ball, used for Tests in England, behaves differently from the Kookaburra used in most countries including Australia and, in the hands of England's pacemen defeated Australia on the two most recent Ashes tours.
Dukes will be trialled in under-age championships and some second-XI games this summer, to see if they can withstand harsh Australian conditions, with the intention of eventually employing them for some rounds of the Sheffield Shield to prepare players for Ashes combat.
The Dukes cricket ball, used for Tests in England, behaves differently from the Kookaburra used in most countries including Australia and, in the hands of England's pacemen defeated Australia on the two most recent Ashes tours.
Dukes will be trialled in under-age championships and some second-XI games this summer, to see if they can withstand harsh Australian conditions, with the intention of eventually employing them for some rounds of the Sheffield Shield to prepare players for Ashes combat.
The article also makes the point that the use of Dukes in Australia might help reduce costs for grassroots clubs/associations, as many of them currently outlay significant amounts of money on Kookaburras each season.
I've never used a Duke or a Platypus in a match (not that I can recall, anyway, and certainly not at senior level).
What are peoples thoughts on this move?

